Utility yard

Before (aftually after moving a palette of wood with the help of my neighbor, thanks Verner.)


Yesterday I graded and filled gravel along the sides. The brick ramps are for moving the wheel-barrow.


We moved all the bricks and wood into this pile near where the BBQ will go.


After regrading and filling with gravel. (Not shown, about 1/3 as much still to go)


Today Aaron and I did huge amount of work. I dug 3" deep channels under the fence line to improve drainage. The we regraded the area and dug drainage troughs. We moved all the junk out of the back including a half palette of bricks. I've moved piles bricks so many damned times, I've lost count; at least now they are sitting next to where the BBQ pit will be so they are within arms reach of their final resting place. Then we took down part of the fence in order to improve the grade, laid down a weed barrier, and hauled about 12 loads of gravel up the steps. I'm beat.

Pipe move

The plumber Dale came by today to reroute the pipe that was in the middle of my new cabinet space. Unfortunately I forgot to mention to him that the bottom needed to be cut out (you can see the stub at the bottom) to make way for a larger drawer so either I live with it or have him rebuild that when he comes over for the kitchenette plumbing next week.

Workshop demo, Kitchenette framing, fence

"Yeah, those aren't necessary", says Bruce as he cuts them out. (He's the one who put them there in the first place. :-)



After duct and electrical rearrangements, leaving only the pipe to be re-routed.



Having two excellent professional carpenters around sure boosts the productivity. We began the morning by demolishing part of the chase that is adjacent to the workshop wall where we are opening space for a new set of tool drawers and storage. This required moving around a few supports, ducts, and eletrical boxes (my job). There's a big sewage pipe in the middle of this which will be re-routed when the plumber comes on Thursday. Then Bruce and Kurt framed out the wall where the kitchette will go and we went over to a discount appliance store and purchased the microwave/vent hood, half-size dishwasher, and gas cook top which look pretty nice for a pretty reasonable price of about $1100. Then I worked for a few hours on revisions to Andy's paper and then after a 1 hour gym, I managed to get 4 of the 6 stringers up on the back fence.

Fence line, Bed spreads, Screening, Sophia Collier, and a paper for the Royal Society

Today was an oddly productive day. In the morning I dug post holes for a last bit of fence line that will separate my utility yard from my back yard. Then Bruce came over for measurement on the screening that for the upstairs porch. Then Amberlee came over and we had a little Christmas where we opened all the packages that she had ordered for me -- a new bed headboard, douvet, sheets, and pillows! For lunch I had a marvelous time meeting with Sophia Collier who was introduced to me by my attorney. Sophia and I were apparently born with the same mutant genes; we both left school (I in 11th and she in 12th) and we went off to various other endeavors (although hers have been generally more profitable than mine!) After a career in such things as soda and mutual fund management, she's now into CNC artwork. She has a CNC mill, 3D software, and a lot of fun ideas. We geeked out for hours on art and science projects of all kinds and she gave me much valuable feedback with regards to my various forthcoming enterprises. After lunch I set the fence posts and poured the footer concrete and then started on the rewrite of the paper I've been writing with Andy Ellington for the Royal Society journal Interface which came back with deservedly so-so reviews and which as a result (as seems to often be the case with peer-reviewed journals) is forcing a rewrite that will no doubt result in a better paper.

Utility yard steps

This afternoon I built three steps along the utility yard that will be back-filled with pea-gravel forming a series of stepped terraces using the bricks my neighbors gave me.

Plants

I attached my custom tiles to the front of the planter my friend Scott Thurmon came over with dirt and plants so the front planter is now complete (except that the irrigation still needs to be connected). In a year or so the red yucca in the middle should grow up to be more proportional to the mass of the planter.

Acid washing

Today I acid washed the back wall. What a difference the acid makes. Compare to the earlier pictures. I started playing with tiles on the front steps. I haven't made my final decision on that yet. Some of my friends hate it and others love it. Amusingly, so far it seems to break down roughly between those who have lived/traveled in Spain or Latin America and those who haven't.